diff --git a/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/action-bar-hidden.ts b/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/action-bar-hidden.ts
index 95b686e5c..c7c9604d3 100644
--- a/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/action-bar-hidden.ts
+++ b/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/action-bar-hidden.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import view = require("ui/core/view");
 
 var toggle = false;
 export function toggleTap(args) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(<view.View>args.object, "Page")
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
     page.actionBarHidden = toggle;
     toggle = !toggle;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/data-binding.ts b/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/data-binding.ts
index 2832b7fb5..b6bf5680e 100644
--- a/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/data-binding.ts
+++ b/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/data-binding.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export function pageLoaded(args) {
 }
 var i = 0;
 export function buttonTap(args) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(<view.View>args.object, "Page")
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
     var vm = page.bindingContext;
     var icon;
     if (i % 3 === 0) {
diff --git a/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/navigation-button.ts b/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/navigation-button.ts
index b0a0fadf8..37a544a68 100644
--- a/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/navigation-button.ts
+++ b/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/navigation-button.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import view = require("ui/core/view");
 
 var i = 0;
 export function buttonTap(args: observable.EventData) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(<view.View>args.object, "Page")
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
 
     var navBtn = new action.NavigationButton();
     navBtn.text = "nav " + i++;
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export function buttonTap(args: observable.EventData) {
 
 var j = 0;
 export function visibilityTap(args: observable.EventData) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(<view.View>args.object, "Page")
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
 
     if (page.actionBar.android) {
         if (j % 3 === 0) {
diff --git a/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/page-title-icon.ts b/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/page-title-icon.ts
index df808c206..7baa72878 100644
--- a/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/page-title-icon.ts
+++ b/apps/action-bar-demo/pages/page-title-icon.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import view = require("ui/core/view");
 
 var i = 0;
 export function buttonTap(args: observable.EventData) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(<view.View>args.object, "Page")
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
     page.actionBar.title = "Title changed " + i++;
 
     if (page.actionBar.android) {
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export function buttonTap(args: observable.EventData) {
 
 var j = 0;
 export function visibilityTap(args: observable.EventData) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(<view.View>args.object, "Page")
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
 
     if (page.actionBar.android) {
         if (j % 3 === 0) {
diff --git a/apps/tests/TKUnit.ts b/apps/tests/TKUnit.ts
index 3c607b265..2e11ce19f 100644
--- a/apps/tests/TKUnit.ts
+++ b/apps/tests/TKUnit.ts
@@ -188,11 +188,11 @@ export function assertEqual(actual: any, expected: any, message?: string) {
 
         // Use the equals method
         if (!actual.equals(expected)) {
-            throw new Error(message + " Actual: " + actual + " Expected: " + expected);
+            throw new Error(`${message} Actual: <${actual}>(${typeof(actual)}). Expected: <${expected}>(${typeof(expected)})`);
         }
     }
     else if (actual !== expected) {
-        throw new Error(message + " Actual: " + actual + " Expected: " + expected);
+        throw new Error(`${message} Actual: <${actual}>(${typeof(actual)}). Expected: <${expected}>(${typeof(expected)})`);
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/apps/tests/pages/background-test.ts b/apps/tests/pages/background-test.ts
index 17f9c2096..daa8289fc 100644
--- a/apps/tests/pages/background-test.ts
+++ b/apps/tests/pages/background-test.ts
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ import view = require("ui/core/view");
 import pages = require("ui/page");
 
 export function applyTap(args) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(args.object, "Page");
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
     var css = "#test-element { " + args.object.tag + " }";
     page.css = css;
 }
 
 export function resetTap(args) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(args.object, "Page");
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
     page.css = "";
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/apps/tests/ui/list-view/list-view-tests.ts b/apps/tests/ui/list-view/list-view-tests.ts
index 7086e824a..c256f74dd 100644
--- a/apps/tests/ui/list-view/list-view-tests.ts
+++ b/apps/tests/ui/list-view/list-view-tests.ts
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ export function test_usingAppLevelConvertersInListViewItems() {
     var dateConverter = function (value, format) {
         var result = format;
         var day = value.getDate();
-        result = result.replace("DD", month < 10 ? "0" + day : day);
+        result = result.replace("DD", day < 10 ? "0" + day : day);
         var month = value.getMonth() + 1;
         result = result.replace("MM", month < 10 ? "0" + month : month);
         result = result.replace("YYYY", value.getFullYear());
@@ -475,8 +475,7 @@ export function test_usingAppLevelConvertersInListViewItems() {
     app.resources["dateConverter"] = dateConverter;
 
     var data = new observableArray.ObservableArray();
-
-    data.push({ date: new Date() });
+    data.push({ date: new Date(2020, 2, 7) });
 
     function testAction(views: Array<viewModule.View>) {
         listView.itemTemplate = "<Label id=\"testLabel\" text=\"{{ date, date | dateConverter('DD.MM.YYYY') }}\" />";
@@ -485,7 +484,7 @@ export function test_usingAppLevelConvertersInListViewItems() {
         TKUnit.wait(ASYNC);
         var nativeElementText = getTextFromNativeElementAt(listView, 0);
 
-        TKUnit.assertEqual(nativeElementText, dateConverter(new Date(), "DD.MM.YYYY"), "native element");
+        TKUnit.assertEqual(nativeElementText, "07.03.2020", "native element text");
     };
 
     helper.buildUIAndRunTest(listView, testAction);
diff --git a/apps/tests/xml-declaration/inherited-base-page.ts b/apps/tests/xml-declaration/inherited-base-page.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..20c3dc029
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/tests/xml-declaration/inherited-base-page.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+import {Page} from "ui/page";
+
+export class InheritedPage extends Page {
+}
diff --git a/apps/tests/xml-declaration/inherited-page.ts b/apps/tests/xml-declaration/inherited-page.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..48e494f9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/tests/xml-declaration/inherited-page.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import {Page} from "ui/page";
+import {Label} from "ui/label";
+
+export function pageLoaded(args) {
+    var page = <Page>args.object;
+    (<Label>page.content).text += " and loaded";
+}
diff --git a/apps/tests/xml-declaration/inherited-page.xml b/apps/tests/xml-declaration/inherited-page.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1d4a45700
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/tests/xml-declaration/inherited-page.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<inherited:InheritedPage xmlns="http://www.nativescript.org/tns.xsd"
+  xmlns:inherited="xml-declaration/inherited-base-page" loaded="pageLoaded">
+  <Label text="Inherited" />
+</inherited:InheritedPage>
diff --git a/apps/tests/xml-declaration/xml-declaration-tests.ts b/apps/tests/xml-declaration/xml-declaration-tests.ts
index cdc6bb1c8..47f247057 100644
--- a/apps/tests/xml-declaration/xml-declaration-tests.ts
+++ b/apps/tests/xml-declaration/xml-declaration-tests.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import TKUnit = require("../TKUnit");
 import view = require("ui/core/view");
 import builder = require("ui/builder");
-import page = require("ui/page");
 import buttonModule = require("ui/button");
 import switchModule = require("ui/switch");
 import textFieldModule = require("ui/text-field");
@@ -12,7 +11,8 @@ import fs = require("file-system");
 import fileSystemAccess = require("file-system/file-system-access");
 import observable = require("data/observable");
 import stackLayoutModule = require("ui/layouts/stack-layout");
-import labelModule = require("ui/label");
+import {Label} from "ui/label";
+import {Page} from "ui/page";
 import myCustomControlWithoutXml = require("./mymodule/MyControl");
 import listViewModule = require("ui/list-view");
 import helper = require("../ui/helper");
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ export function test_loadWithOptionsNoXML() {
 };
 
 export function test_loadWithOptionsNoXML_CSSIsApplied() {
-    var newPage: page.Page;
-    var pageFactory = function (): page.Page {
-        newPage = new page.Page();
+    var newPage: Page;
+    var pageFactory = function (): Page {
+        newPage = new Page();
 
         newPage.content = builder.load({
             path: "~/xml-declaration/mymodule",
@@ -76,6 +76,22 @@ export function test_loadWithOptionsNoXML_CSSIsApplied() {
     }
 };
 
+export function test_loadInheritedPageAndResolveFromChild() {
+    helper.navigateToModuleAndRunTest("./xml-declaration/inherited-page", null, (page) => {
+        let contentLabel = <Label>page.content;
+        TKUnit.assertEqual("Inherited and loaded", contentLabel.text);
+
+        let discoveredPage = contentLabel.page;
+        TKUnit.assert(page === discoveredPage);
+
+        let discoveredAncestorByBaseType = viewModule.getAncestor(contentLabel, Page);
+        TKUnit.assert(page === discoveredAncestorByBaseType);
+
+        let discoveredAncestorByInheritedTypeName = viewModule.getAncestor(contentLabel, "InheritedPage");
+        TKUnit.assert(page === discoveredAncestorByInheritedTypeName);
+    });
+}
+
 export function test_loadWithOptionsWithXML() {
     var v = builder.load({
         path: "~/xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml",
@@ -86,9 +102,9 @@ export function test_loadWithOptionsWithXML() {
 };
 
 export function test_loadWithOptionsWithXML_CSSIsApplied() {
-    var newPage: page.Page;
-    var pageFactory = function (): page.Page {
-        newPage = new page.Page();
+    var newPage: Page;
+    var pageFactory = function (): Page {
+        newPage = new Page();
 
         newPage.content = builder.load({
             path: "~/xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml",
@@ -116,7 +132,7 @@ export function test_loadWithOptionsFromTNS() {
         name: "Label"
     });
 
-    TKUnit.assert(v instanceof labelModule.Label, "Expected result: Label; Actual result: " + v + ";");
+    TKUnit.assert(v instanceof Label, "Expected result: Label; Actual result: " + v + ";");
 };
 
 export function test_loadWithOptionsFromTNSPath() {
@@ -125,7 +141,7 @@ export function test_loadWithOptionsFromTNSPath() {
         name: "Label"
     });
 
-    TKUnit.assert(v instanceof labelModule.Label, "Expected result: Label; Actual result: " + v + ";");
+    TKUnit.assert(v instanceof Label, "Expected result: Label; Actual result: " + v + ";");
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldNotCrashWithoutExports() {
@@ -163,7 +179,7 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldFindEventHandlersInExports() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldSetGridAttachedProperties() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><GridLayout><Label row='1' col='2' rowSpan='3' colSpan='4' /></GridLayout></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><GridLayout><Label row='1' col='2' rowSpan='3' colSpan='4' /></GridLayout></Page>");
     var grid = <gridLayoutModule.GridLayout>p.content;
     var child = grid.getChildAt(0);
 
@@ -181,7 +197,7 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldSetGridAttachedProperties() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldSetCanvasAttachedProperties() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><AbsoluteLayout><Label left='1' top='2' right='3' bottom='4' /></AbsoluteLayout></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><AbsoluteLayout><Label left='1' top='2' right='3' bottom='4' /></AbsoluteLayout></Page>");
     var grid = <gridLayoutModule.GridLayout>p.content;
     var child = grid.getChildAt(0);
 
@@ -193,34 +209,34 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldSetCanvasAttachedProperties() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseNumberProperties() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page width='100' />");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page width='100' />");
 
     TKUnit.assert(p.width === 100, "Expected result: 100; Actual result: " + p.width + "; type: " + typeof (p.width));
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseBooleanProperties() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch checked='true' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch checked='true' /></Page>");
     var sw = <switchModule.Switch>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assert(sw.checked === true, "Expected result: true; Actual result: " + sw.checked + "; type: " + typeof (sw.checked));
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseBooleanPropertiesIgnoreCase() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch checked='False' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch checked='False' /></Page>");
     var sw = <switchModule.Switch>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assert(sw.checked === false, "Expected result: false; Actual result: " + sw.checked + "; type: " + typeof (sw.checked));
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseBooleanPropertiesIgnoreCaseInverted() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><TextField editable='False' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><TextField editable='False' /></Page>");
     var tf = <textFieldModule.TextField>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assert(tf.editable === false, "Expected result: false; Actual result: " + tf.editable + "; type: " + typeof (tf.editable));
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParsePlatformSpecificProperties() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><TextField ios:editable='False' android:editable='True' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><TextField ios:editable='False' android:editable='True' /></Page>");
     var tf = <textFieldModule.TextField>p.content;
 
     if (platform.device.os === platform.platformNames.ios) {
@@ -231,12 +247,12 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldParsePlatformSpecificProperties() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParsePlatformSpecificComponents() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><ios><TextField /></ios><android><Label /></android></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><ios><TextField /></ios><android><Label /></android></Page>");
     if (platform.device.os === platform.platformNames.ios) {
         TKUnit.assert(p.content instanceof textFieldModule.TextField, "Expected result: TextField; Actual result: " + p.content);
     }
     else {
-        TKUnit.assert(p.content instanceof labelModule.Label, "Expected result: Label; Actual result: " + p.content);
+        TKUnit.assert(p.content instanceof Label, "Expected result: Label; Actual result: " + p.content);
     }
 };
 
@@ -252,7 +268,7 @@ export function test_parse_ThrowErrorWhenNestingPlatforms() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindings() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch checked='{{ myProp }}' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch checked='{{ myProp }}' /></Page>");
     p.bindingContext = { myProp: true };
     var sw = <switchModule.Switch>p.content;
 
@@ -260,7 +276,7 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindings() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsWithObservable() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch checked='{{ myProp }}' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch checked='{{ myProp }}' /></Page>");
     var obj = new observable.Observable();
     obj.set("myProp", true);
     p.bindingContext = obj;
@@ -274,7 +290,7 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsWithObservable() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsToEvents() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><Button tap='{{ myTap }}' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><Button tap='{{ myTap }}' /></Page>");
     p.bindingContext = {
         myTap: function (args) {
             //
@@ -286,7 +302,7 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsToEvents() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsToGestures() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><Label tap='{{ myTap }}' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><Label tap='{{ myTap }}' /></Page>");
     var context = {
         myTap: function (args) {
             //
@@ -294,7 +310,7 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsToGestures() {
     };
 
     p.bindingContext = context;
-    var lbl = <labelModule.Label>p.content;
+    var lbl = <Label>p.content;
 
     var observer = (<view.View>lbl).getGestureObservers(gesturesModule.GestureTypes.tap)[0];
 
@@ -303,7 +319,7 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsToGestures() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseSubProperties() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch style.visibility='collapsed' checked='{{ myProp }}' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><Switch style.visibility='collapsed' checked='{{ myProp }}' /></Page>");
     var obj = new observable.Observable();
     obj.set("myProp", true);
     p.bindingContext = obj;
@@ -315,11 +331,11 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldParseSubProperties() {
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsWithCommaInsideSingleQuote() {
     var expected = "Hi,test"
     var bindingString = "{{ 'Hi,' + myProp }}";
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page><Label text="' + bindingString + '" /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page><Label text="' + bindingString + '" /></Page>');
     var obj = new observable.Observable();
     obj.set("myProp", "test");
     p.bindingContext = obj;
-    var lbl = <labelModule.Label>p.content;
+    var lbl = <Label>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assert(lbl.text === expected, "Expected " + expected + "; Actual result: " + lbl.text + "; type: " + typeof (lbl.text));
 };
@@ -327,17 +343,17 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsWithCommaInsideSingleQuote() {
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseBindingsWithCommaInsideDoubleQuote() {
     var expected = "Hi,test"
     var bindingString = '{{ "Hi," + myProp }}';
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><Label text='" + bindingString + "' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><Label text='" + bindingString + "' /></Page>");
     var obj = new observable.Observable();
     obj.set("myProp", "test");
     p.bindingContext = obj;
-    var lbl = <labelModule.Label>p.content;
+    var lbl = <Label>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assert(lbl.text === expected, "Expected " + expected + "; Actual result: " + lbl.text + "; type: " + typeof (lbl.text));
 };
 
 export function test_parse_CanBindBackgroundImage() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse("<Page><StackLayout backgroundImage='{{ myProp }}' /></Page>");
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse("<Page><StackLayout backgroundImage='{{ myProp }}' /></Page>");
     var expected = "~/logo.png"
     var obj = new observable.Observable();
     obj.set("myProp", expected);
@@ -348,81 +364,81 @@ export function test_parse_CanBindBackgroundImage() {
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseLowerCaseDashedComponentDeclaration() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<page><stack-layout><label text="Label" /><segmented-bar><segmented-bar.items><segmented-bar-item title="test" /></segmented-bar.items></segmented-bar></stack-layout></page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<page><stack-layout><label text="Label" /><segmented-bar><segmented-bar.items><segmented-bar-item title="test" /></segmented-bar.items></segmented-bar></stack-layout></page>');
     var ctrl = <stackLayoutModule.StackLayout>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assert(ctrl instanceof stackLayoutModule.StackLayout, "Expected result: StackLayout!; Actual result: " + ctrl);
-    TKUnit.assert(ctrl.getChildAt(0) instanceof labelModule.Label, "Expected result: Label!; Actual result: " + ctrl.getChildAt(0));
+    TKUnit.assert(ctrl.getChildAt(0) instanceof Label, "Expected result: Label!; Actual result: " + ctrl.getChildAt(0));
     TKUnit.assert(ctrl.getChildAt(1) instanceof segmentedBar.SegmentedBar, "Expected result: Label!; Actual result: " + ctrl.getChildAt(0));
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithoutXml() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodule"><customControls:MyControl /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodule"><customControls:MyControl /></Page>');
     var ctrl = p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assert(ctrl instanceof myCustomControlWithoutXml.MyControl, "Expected result: custom control is defined!; Actual result: " + ctrl);
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithoutXmlFromTNSModules() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns' + ':customControls="tns_modules/ui/label"><customControls:Label /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns' + ':customControls="tns_modules/ui/label"><customControls:Label /></Page>');
     var ctrl = p.content;
 
-    TKUnit.assert(ctrl instanceof labelModule.Label, "Expected result: custom control is defined!; Actual result: " + ctrl);
+    TKUnit.assert(ctrl instanceof Label, "Expected result: custom control is defined!; Actual result: " + ctrl);
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithoutXmlFromTNSModulesWhenNotSpecified() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns' + ':customControls="ui/label"><customControls:Label /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns' + ':customControls="ui/label"><customControls:Label /></Page>');
     var ctrl = p.content;
 
-    TKUnit.assert(ctrl instanceof labelModule.Label, "Expected result: custom control is defined!; Actual result: " + ctrl);
+    TKUnit.assert(ctrl instanceof Label, "Expected result: custom control is defined!; Actual result: " + ctrl);
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithXml() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:MyControl /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:MyControl /></Page>');
     var panel = <stackLayoutModule.StackLayout>p.content;
-    var lbl = <labelModule.Label>panel.getChildAt(0);
+    var lbl = <Label>panel.getChildAt(0);
 
     TKUnit.assert(lbl.text === "mymodulewithxml", "Expected result: 'mymodulewithxml'; Actual result: " + lbl);
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithXml_WithAttributes() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:MyControl visibility="collapsed" /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:MyControl visibility="collapsed" /></Page>');
     var panel = <stackLayoutModule.StackLayout>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assertEqual(panel.visibility, "collapsed", "panel.visibility");
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithXml_WithCustomAttributes() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:MyControl myProperty="myValue" /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:MyControl myProperty="myValue" /></Page>');
     var panel = <stackLayoutModule.StackLayout>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assertEqual(panel["myProperty"], "myValue", "customControl.myProperty");
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithXmlNoJS() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:my-control-no-js /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:my-control-no-js /></Page>');
     var panel = <stackLayoutModule.StackLayout>p.content;
-    var lbl = <labelModule.Label>panel.getChildAt(0);
+    var lbl = <Label>panel.getChildAt(0);
 
     TKUnit.assertEqual(lbl.text, "I'm all about taht XML, no JS", "label.text");
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithXmlNoJS_WithAttributes() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:my-control-no-js visibility="collapsed" /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:my-control-no-js visibility="collapsed" /></Page>');
     var panel = <stackLayoutModule.StackLayout>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assertEqual(panel.visibility, "collapsed", "panel.visibility");
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithXmlNoJS_WithCustomAttributes() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:my-control-no-js myProperty="myValue" /></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodulewithxml"><customControls:my-control-no-js myProperty="myValue" /></Page>');
     var panel = <stackLayoutModule.StackLayout>p.content;
 
     TKUnit.assertEqual(panel["myProperty"], "myValue", "customControl.myProperty");
 };
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithoutXmlInListViewTemplate() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodule"><ListView items="{{ items }}" itemLoading="{{ itemLoading }}"><ListView.itemTemplate><customControls:MyControl /></ListView.itemTemplate></ListView></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns:customControls="xml-declaration/mymodule"><ListView items="{{ items }}" itemLoading="{{ itemLoading }}"><ListView.itemTemplate><customControls:MyControl /></ListView.itemTemplate></ListView></Page>');
 
     function testAction(views: Array<viewModule.View>) {
         var ctrl;
@@ -450,7 +466,7 @@ export function test_parse_ShouldParseCustomComponentWithoutXmlInListViewTemplat
 }
 
 export function test_parse_ShouldParseNestedListViewInListViewTemplate() {
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns="http://www.nativescript.org/tns.xsd"><ListView items="{{ items }}" itemLoading="{{ itemLoading }}"><ListView.itemTemplate><ListView items="{{ subItems }}" /></ListView.itemTemplate></ListView></Page>');
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse('<Page xmlns="http://www.nativescript.org/tns.xsd"><ListView items="{{ items }}" itemLoading="{{ itemLoading }}"><ListView.itemTemplate><ListView items="{{ subItems }}" /></ListView.itemTemplate></ListView></Page>');
 
     function testAction(views: Array<viewModule.View>) {
         var ctrl;
@@ -492,15 +508,15 @@ export function test_parse_NestedRepeaters() {
         "    </Repeater.itemTemplate>" +
         "  </Repeater>" +
         "</Page>";
-    var p = <page.Page>builder.parse(pageXML);
+    var p = <Page>builder.parse(pageXML);
 
     function testAction(views: Array<viewModule.View>) {
         p.bindingContext = [["0", "1"], ["2", "3"]];
         TKUnit.wait(0.2);
 
-        var lbls = new Array<labelModule.Label>();
+        var lbls = new Array<Label>();
         view.eachDescendant(p, (v) => {
-            if (v instanceof labelModule.Label) {
+            if (v instanceof Label) {
                 lbls.push(v);
             }
             return true;
diff --git a/apps/ui-tests-app/pages/background.ts b/apps/ui-tests-app/pages/background.ts
index 17f9c2096..daa8289fc 100644
--- a/apps/ui-tests-app/pages/background.ts
+++ b/apps/ui-tests-app/pages/background.ts
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ import view = require("ui/core/view");
 import pages = require("ui/page");
 
 export function applyTap(args) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(args.object, "Page");
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
     var css = "#test-element { " + args.object.tag + " }";
     page.css = css;
 }
 
 export function resetTap(args) {
-    var page = <pages.Page>view.getAncestor(args.object, "Page");
+    var page = <pages.Page>(<view.View>args.object).page;
     page.css = "";
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/ui/core/view-common.ts b/ui/core/view-common.ts
index 5eb040a04..eb02cd8d0 100644
--- a/ui/core/view-common.ts
+++ b/ui/core/view-common.ts
@@ -55,14 +55,21 @@ export function eachDescendant(view: definition.View, callback: (child: View) =>
     view._eachChildView(localCallback);
 }
 
-export function getAncestor(view: View, typeName: string): definition.View {
-    var parent = view.parent;
-
-    while (parent && parent.typeName !== typeName) {
-        parent = parent.parent;
+export function getAncestor(view: View, criterion: string | Function): definition.View {
+    let matcher: (view: definition.View) => boolean = null;
+    if (typeof criterion === "string") {
+        matcher = (view: definition.View) => view.typeName === criterion;
+    } else {
+        matcher = (view: definition.View) => view instanceof criterion;
     }
 
-    return parent;
+    for (let parent: definition.View = view.parent; parent != null; parent = parent.parent) {
+        if (matcher(parent)) {
+            return parent;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return null;
 }
 
 var viewIdCounter = 0;
@@ -331,6 +338,14 @@ export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject implements definition.View {
         this._setValue(View.isEnabledProperty, value);
     }
 
+    get page(): definition.View {
+        if (this.parent) {
+            return this.parent.page;
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
     get isUserInteractionEnabled(): boolean {
         return this._getValue(View.isUserInteractionEnabledProperty);
     }
@@ -710,7 +725,7 @@ export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject implements definition.View {
     }
 
     private _applyStyleFromScope() {
-        var rootPage = getAncestor(this, "Page");
+        var rootPage = this.page;
         if (!rootPage || !rootPage.isLoaded) {
             return;
         }
@@ -933,4 +948,4 @@ export class View extends proxy.ProxyObject implements definition.View {
         animation.target = that;
         return new animationModule.Animation([animation]);
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/ui/core/view.d.ts b/ui/core/view.d.ts
index 9b86188ff..b2fbfdc5d 100644
--- a/ui/core/view.d.ts
+++ b/ui/core/view.d.ts
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ declare module "ui/core/view" {
     /**
      * Gets an ancestor from a given type.
      * @param view - Starting view (child view).
-     * @param typeName - The type name of the parent container which is looking for.
+     * @param criterion - The type of ancestor view we are looking for. Could be a string containing a class name or an actual type.
      * Returns an instance of a view (if found), otherwise undefined.
      */
-    export function getAncestor(view: View, typeName: string): View;
+    export function getAncestor(view: View, criterion: string | Function): View;
 
     /**
      * Defines interface for an optional parameter used to create a view.
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ declare module "ui/core/view" {
         parent: View;
 
         /**
-         * Gets is layout is valid. This is read-only property.
+         * Gets is layout is valid. This is a read-only property.
          */
         isLayoutValid: boolean;
 
@@ -266,6 +266,11 @@ declare module "ui/core/view" {
 
         visualState: string;
 
+        /**
+         * Gets owner page. This is a read-only property.
+         */
+        page: View;
+
         /**
          * This is called to find out how big a view should be. The parent supplies constraint information in the width and height parameters.
          * The actual measurement work of a view is performed in onMeasure(int, int), called by this method. Therefore, only onMeasure(int, int) can and must be overridden by subclasses.
diff --git a/ui/page/page-common.ts b/ui/page/page-common.ts
index 2aa969705..0ca286d07 100644
--- a/ui/page/page-common.ts
+++ b/ui/page/page-common.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,10 @@ export class Page extends contentView.ContentView implements dts.Page {
         }
     }
 
+    get page(): view.View {
+        return this;
+    }
+
     private _refreshCss(): void {
         if (this._cssApplied) {
             this._resetCssValues();
@@ -263,4 +267,4 @@ export class Page extends contentView.ContentView implements dts.Page {
 
         return super._addViewToNativeVisualTree(view);
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/ui/styling/visual-state.ts b/ui/styling/visual-state.ts
index 96a607d0f..a32ec6abf 100644
--- a/ui/styling/visual-state.ts
+++ b/ui/styling/visual-state.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export class VisualState {
  * 
  */
 export function goToState(view: viewModule.View, state: string): string {
-    var root = <any>viewModule.getAncestor(view, "Page");
+    var root = <any>view.page;
     if (!root) {
         return undefined;
     }
@@ -90,4 +90,4 @@ function applyProperties(view: viewModule.View, state: VisualState) {
             view.style._setValue(property, state.setters[name], observable.ValueSource.VisualState);
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/ui/tab-view/tab-view.android.ts b/ui/tab-view/tab-view.android.ts
index 44ddb7067..53291f0c4 100644
--- a/ui/tab-view/tab-view.android.ts
+++ b/ui/tab-view/tab-view.android.ts
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ export class TabView extends common.TabView {
     }
 
     public _addTabs(newItems: Array<definition.TabViewItem>) {
-        var parentPage = <page.Page>view.getAncestor(this, "Page");
+        var parentPage = <page.Page>this.page;
         if (parentPage && parentPage.actionBarHidden) {
             return;
         }
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ export class TabView extends common.TabView {
     }
 
     public _removeTabs(oldItems: Array<definition.TabViewItem>) {
-        var parentPage = <page.Page>view.getAncestor(this, "Page");
+        var parentPage = <page.Page>this.page;
         if (parentPage && parentPage.actionBarHidden) {
             return;
         }
@@ -511,4 +511,4 @@ export class TabView extends common.TabView {
         var activity = <android.app.Activity>this._android.getContext();
         return activity.getActionBar();
     }
-} 
\ No newline at end of file
+}